What Happened When I Quit Coffee and Caffeine
I was first introduced to coffee when I was sixteen on a trip to Italy with my Grandmother to see our relatives. I loved how I could go to a cafe and sip an espresso while reading vogue. I felt so sophisticated. This was when I was introduced to my first cigarette too. Thankfully, I didn’t keep up with that habit. At seventeen, I left for college and began modeling and traveling the world. I loved having Starbucks in the morning. I used to drink a Carmel macchiato with skim milk before I went plantbased. I would hold my coffee cup as if it was a fashion accessory between castings or on the way to class. Then I discovered the nespresso machine and it’s frother. I enjoyed having an almond milk latte with 1-2 shots of espresso in it morning.
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As healthy as I am and as mindful as I am as a holistic health coach and a plant based being, the thought of ‘needing’ a coffee with my jolt of caffeine in the morning began to bother me. Coffee became a habit, then an addiction. I dropped coffee in the past, when breastfeeding my son as I he had silent reflux so I have to take all caffeine and certain foods out of my diet. Once I finished breastfeeding, I started on my coffee routine again.
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Just like drugs, caffeine alters the chemistry of your brain if you take it in regularly over time as I did. You can become dependent on it, too, and need more and more after a while just to feel the effects.
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I have warm water with lemon when i wake up. I take my vitamins, I would have my latte about 45-1 hour later depending on when I exercised. I also would have my green juice after exercising late in the morning.
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What happened when I removed my morning latte which contained 2 short shots and almond milk? The first 2 days were easy. I was like wow! I can do this. But by the 3rd day my body starting realizing it didn’t have its morning jolt of caffeine. The withdraw effects were unpleasant and included
Headache
Moodiness
Tiredness
Brain fog
An on edge feeling
Trouble concentrating
Thankfully the symptoms only lasted 4 days. I’m now 11 days without caffeine, coffee, or sweets.
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I wouldn’t suggest quitting cold turkey like I did but gradually consuming less and less a day.
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What did I do to help me get through the withdrawal?
Drank a lot of water
Had a hearty breakfast
A colorful plate of fruit and then oatmeal after
Exercised. Pilates and yoga
Acupuncture
Breathwork
Went to bed earlier to get more sleep
Juicing
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I am already feeling and seeing a difference in my mind, body, and spirit. What I have noticed...
I wake up feeling ready to face the day and not tired
I feel naturally alert yet calm
My skin is glowing, studies have shown that caffeine ages skin and slows down the rate at which we make collagen
Less breast soreness or tenderness. Studies have also shown there is a link between breast tenderness and too much caffeine in the body
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Coffee does have some health benefits but I knew I was dependent on it and didn’t want that! I still love the thought of coffee but am taking a break from it for now as I feel great!
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I also have to add that I did an Elimination diet at the beginning of the new year. I cut out coffee, caffeine, sugar, sweets, cookies, cakes, certain nightshade veggies and a few fruits. I don’t recommend this to clients. I would say eliminate slowly and take smaller amounts of things that you feel don’t make you feel
Good or bring you joy when eating them. Also, pay attention to how you feel after eating and keep a food journal.
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